Belgium Netherlands Germany

31st May 17
Dover to Dunkirk on to Bruges. Roads good in NZ compared to some we have driven on , French one quite bad in places but lots of tolls as Government doesn’t fund.
Camping $48.97/night

1st June 2017
Spent the night at a small camp ground just outside Bruges. Tidy, quiet and crap Internet. Caught the bus into the town centre and did a self-guide walk. Lots of canals and old buildings with chocolate and waffle shops everywhere. Outside the city centre the houses are modern and well-kept with well cared for gardens. Clean. Quite hot, up to about 28c but lovely clear skys.

Photos: Bruges,Ghent(castle+David)

2nd June 2017
Drove to Ghent and did the park and ride into the centre. Another canal city, but larger and not as quaint as Bruges. Less chocolate stores doesn't help. The Saint Baafs Cathedral is massive, one of the biggest we’ve seen. Had our first driving on the wrong side incident where David correctly turned right out of a carpark but was driving down a cycle way instead of the road. Very angry cyclist, which is better than a very angry truck driver. Another hot day and clear sky, not so humid. Very flat not a hill to be seen hence lots of bike riders.

3rd June 17
Bused back to Bruges. Walked around street hadn’t already and Saturday markets. A lot more people than on Thursday so just as well we were visiting the not so visited spots. Stopped and had crepe (omelette) for lunch one filled us both then more walking and as in Belgium needed to have waffle (chocolate/strawberries/cream) and some Belgium chocolates(rationed to one a day). Great place for just walking around and perfect weather. Recommend Belgium as a stop, we will be back to do more in the south.

4th June 17
Bruges to Haarlem (Netherlands). Travelling day, out of Bruges, skirting around Antwerp and up to Kinderdijk near Rotterdam. Lots of old windmills all clustered together. Had a tiki tour of the Rotterdam motorway system to get there, but worth it in the end. On to Delft, which because it was Sunday, was closed for business. They take Sunday closing quite seriously around here. Walked the old town and some of the canals and on to Haarlem. We are in the top floor of a 3 storey house with stairs that are steeper than most ladders. Cooked dinner sitting at a table. Such luxury.

Airbnb $85.50/night central Haarlem

Photos previous page: Bruges
Photos next page: Kinderdijk, Delft ,Haarlem room view,Haarlem x3

5th June 17
Morning walking some of the canals of Haarlem. Lots of small day boats dotted all along the canals. It’s a public holiday today so most of the city centre not open until midday. Lots of old musical organ machines all around the centre.

6th June 17
Haarlem and went to outskirts of Amsterdam to park & ride but was an issue so went back to Harlem and had bit of walk around .Weather bad so had relaxing afternoon (working).Seen lots of poppies around particularly on roadside. Plenty of steep stairs to keep us fit up to accommodation.

7th June 17
A bit of a storm last night which bought down trees and branches, one tree right across one of the canals. Our second attempt into Amsterdam, this time by train from Haarlem. Lots of museums. I understand the science museum, but can't get my head around the museums for hash & hemp, prostitution, Bags & Purses. The list goes on. A few showers part way through our walk but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. Bought an all day hop on/hop off pass for the canal tourist boats,so spent quite a bit of time just cruising the canals.

Photo: Ansterdam

8th June 17
Haarlem to Lubeck Germany, long day in car. Over causeway at top “The Afsluitdijk” of Netherlands 32km, not much to see. Sooo FLAT!!!!! All through France/Belgium/Netherlands & Germany. Easy to drive and walk. Getting hang of google maps and downloading areas to use offline, even got lady talking to us now makes my life easier.
Airbnb private room $56 night

9th June 17
Lubeck walk into city about 3km and spent day walking around. Really nice old city on the river, and hardly a tourist bus to be seen. Walked home but got caught in thunder storm, luckily managed to shelter from the worst of it.

Photos: Causeway Netherlans, Lubeck